Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 4, 2025

Author Spotlight: Advancing Awake Nasotracheal Intubation with Flexible Video Rhino-Laryngoscopes
Published on: August 2, 2024
Acute Tracheal Obstruction Secondary to Cervical Liposarcoma Metastasis
Haoyu Chen1, Song Zhang1, Haining Zhou1
1Provincial Higher Medical College, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan Province, China.
Abstract:
Tracheal obstruction can arise from multiple conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, foreign bodies, tumors, and acute heart failure. We report a case of a 43-year-old man with cervical liposarcoma who, following surgical excision, chemotherapy, and radiation, presented with severe dyspnea and was admitted to our hospital. A CT scan detected an endotracheal mass causing significant obstruction, suspected to be malignant. The patient required intensive care due to respiratory distress. Bronchoscopy revealed a red polypoid lesion causing nearly 90% tracheal narrowing, which was successfully resected using high-frequency electrotrap and argon coagulation, confirming it as a metastasis from the previously treated liposarcoma. Remarkably, there were no significant recurrences after 6 months. While lung metastases are frequent, intratracheal metastasis is rare; this case is the first documenting bronchial and tracheal metastasis of liposarcoma. It highlights the dangers of airway obstruction and the need for timely intervention. Although CT scans are helpful in identifying intrabronchial tumors, bronchoscopy remains the gold standard for diagnosis and treatment, with several options available for urgent cases.
Related Concept Videos
Trachea
Anatomical Features:
Location: About half of the trachea is situated in the neck, anterior to the esophagus, and extends from the larynx (at the level of...
Tracheostomy Decannulation
Description of the Procedure
Decannulation refers to the permanent removal of the tracheostomy tube, signaling the resolution of the condition that initially necessitated the tracheostomy. The process requires a well-coordinated interplay between...
Esophageal Strictures-I: Introduction
Etiology
The primary cause of esophageal strictures is long-standing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), accounting for about 70 to 80% of adult cases. Chronic acid reflux can lead to injury and scarring of the esophageal lining, culminating in...
Tracheostomy: Procedure and Tubes
Tracheostomy tubes can be made of semiflexible plastic (polyurethane or silicone), rigid plastic, or metal, and they come in...
Oxygen Delivering System III: Tracheostomy and T-piece
Tracheostomy
A tracheostomy is a surgically created opening (stoma) in the anterior part of the trachea. It is used to establish a patient airway, bypass an upper airway obstruction, simplify the removal of secretions, permit long-term...

